Ampatuan hometown has new mayor

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Shariff Aguak, the hometown of the Ampatuans, has a new mayor as its vice mayor assumed the post on Tuesday.

Sahara Alia Silongan, solicitor-general of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) earlier issued a written confirmation of the validity of Vice Mayor Marop Ampatuan’s assumption as acting mayor in view of the absence of Mayor Zahara Upam Ampatuan.

ARMM sources said Marop has to take over to prevent paralysis in the municipal government.